Methods And Apparatus For Use In Transferring User Data Between Two Different Mobile Communication Devices Using A Removable Memory Card

• US 20110066864A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Tysowski, Piotr Konrad
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for use in transferring user data from a first (“source”) mobile communication device to a second (“target”) mobile communication device using a removable memory card are disclosed. The source and target devices may be possessed and/or owned by the same end user. The source device is initially enabled to maintain data synchronization with a host server over a wireless communication network via a first wireless transceiver for user data of an application program associated with the user account. To enable the target device for the communications associated with the user account, the source device is operative to establish a programming session with the target device via a second wireless transceiver. During the programming session, the source device causes user account data (e.g. at least one encryption/decryption key for the data-synchronized communications) for the user account to be transmitted to the target device via the second wireless transceiver. Preferably, the user account data is encrypted based on a passkey for the programming session. The user data associated with the application program may then be transferred from the source device to the target device via a removable memory card such as a secure digital (SD) card.

Claims

1. A method for use by a first mobile communication device in transferring user data associated with a user account from the first mobile communication device having a first e-mail application program to a second mobile communication device having a second e-mail application program, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining data synchronization with a host server over a wireless communication network for user data of a host e-mail application program associated with the user account;

for the data synchronization;

regularly causing user data associated with the user account to be stored in memory of the first mobile communication device for the first e-mail application program; and

causing a copy of the user data to be further stored in memory of a removable memory card of the first mobile communication device, for use in transferring the user data to memory of the second mobile communication device for the second

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the removable memory card to be transferred from the first mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after causing the removable memory card to be transferred from the first mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device, causing the user data to be transferred from the memory of the removable memory card to memory of the second mobile communication device for the second e-mail application program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a prompt to be produced, via a user interface of at least one of the first and the second mobile communication devices, to transfer the removable memory card from the first mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the removable memory card comprises a secure digital (SD) card.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining storage of an encryption/decryption key in memory of the first mobile communication device;

refraining from maintaining storage of the encryption/decryption key in the memory of the removable memory card; and

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format in accordance with encryption/decryption key.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the act of maintaining data synchronization with the host server over the wireless communication network is performed via a first wireless transceiver of the first mobile communication device;

maintaining storage of an encryption/decryption key in memory of the first mobile communication device;

refraining from maintaining storage of the encryption/decryption key in the memory of the removable memory card;

causing the encryption/decryption key to be transmitted to the second mobile communication device via a second wireless transceiver of the first mobile communication device during a programming session; and

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format in accordance with encryption/decryption key.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the data synchronization;

receiving, over the wireless communication network, the user data in a type-length format;

converting the user data in the type-length format into a binary format;

causing the user data in the binary format to be stored in the memory of the first mobile communication device for the first e-mail application program;

causing the copy of the user data in the type-length format to be stored in the memory of the removable memory card.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the data synchronization;

receiving, over the wireless communication network, the user data in an encrypted, type-length format;

decrypting the user data from the encrypted, type-length format into a decrypted, type-length format;

converting the user data from the decrypted, type-length format into a binary format;

causing the user data in the binary format to be stored in the memory of the first mobile communication device for the first e-mail application program; and

causing the copy of the user data in the encrypted, type-length format to be stored in the memory of the removable memory card.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the data synchronization comprises message synchronization for electronic mail (e-mail) messages associated with the user account for an e-mail application program.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data synchronization comprises at least one of address book synchronization for address book contacts in an address book organizer and calendar appointment synchronization for calendar appointments in a calendar application program.

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the memory for storing an e-mail application program;

an interface coupled to the one or more processors which is adapted to receive a removable memory card;

the one or more processors being operative to;

maintain data synchronization with a host server over a wireless communication network via the wireless transceiver for user data of a host e-mail application program associated with a user account;

for the data synchronization;

regularly cause user data associated with the user account to be stored in the memory for the e-mail application program of the mobile communication device; and

cause a copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card, for use in transferring the user data to memory of an alternate mobile communication device for an e-mail application program of the alternate mobile communication device.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the removable memory card is subsequently transferred from the mobile communication device to the alternate mobile communication device for transferring the user data to the memory of the alternate mobile communication device.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein after the removable memory card is transferred from the mobile communication device to the alternate mobile communication device, the user data is transferred from the memory of the removable memory card to the memory of the alternate mobile communication device.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the removable memory card comprises a secure digital (SD) card.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain storage of an encryption/decryption key in memory of the mobile communication device;

refrain from maintaining storage of the encryption/decryption key in the memory of the removable memory card; and

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format in accordance with encryption/decryption key.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device further comprises a short-range wireless transceiver, and the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain storage of an encryption/decryption key in memory of the mobile communication device;

refrain from maintaining storage of the encryption/decryption key in the memory of the removable memory card;

cause the encryption/decryption key to be transmitted to the second mobile communication device via the short-range wireless transceiver during a programming session; and

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format in accordance with encryption key.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device further comprises a short-range wireless transceiver, and the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain storage of an encryption/decryption key in memory of the mobile communication device;

refrain from maintaining storage of the encryption/decryption key in the memory of the removable memory card;

cause the encryption/decryption key to be transmitted to the second mobile communication device via a short-range wireless transceiver of the first mobile communication device during a programming session;

causing the copy of the user data to be further stored in the memory of the removable memory card in an encrypted format in accordance with encryption key; and

after causing the removable memory card to be transferred from the mobile communication device to the alternate mobile communication device, cause the user data to be transferred from the memory of the removable to memory card to the memory of the alternate mobile communication device.